Clowney would surely be in the pros by now if he wasn't required to spend one more year in college. If anyone needs a refresher on just how good this guy is, check in with former Michigan running back Vincent Smith, assuming he's finally coherent after taking the season's most vicious hit in the Outback Bowl, one which sent both the ball and his helmet flying.

In a sense, Clowney is the exaggerated prototype for the kind of player that makes SEC defenses stand apart from everyone else. In this league, it seems, everyone is just a few pounds bigger, a little bit stronger, a step quicker. Manti Te'o might've been a stud at Notre Dame, but his performance in the national title game - most of it spent on his back as Alabama romped to a 42-14 victory - showed he would've been just another player in the SEC.

If there was any hope the Crimson Tide might back off the throttle just a bit, Saban shot that down just minutes after his team had finished its destruction of the Fighting Irish. He said the celebration would last all of 24 hours, then he'd be back in the office getting ready to win another championship.

"Even though I really appreciate what this team accomplished and am very, very proud of what they accomplished, we need to prepare for the challenges of the new season very quickly with the team we have coming back," he said.

Saban sounded totally devoid of joy, just a man on an insatiable quest to knock down anyone in his path. He is the perfect symbol for the SEC, which saps a little more joy from this game with each passing season, a league on cruise control while everyone else is struggling mightily just to get off the ground.

Please don't put us through that again.

Can you help us out, Ohio State? The Buckeyes at least have a coach, Urban Meyer, who knew how to win in the SEC and clearly doesn't mind cutting a few corners.

What about you, Louisville? The Cardinals certainly have a championship-caliber quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, and put quite a whippin' on Florida in the Sugar Bowl.